MODAL VERBS and RELATED PHRASES

MODAL VERBS and RELATED PHRASES

To express degrees of obligation or whether or not something is necessary, desirable, permitted or forbidden. Also to refer to people's abilities.

Open Ended

WRITE THE MODALS YOU CAN RECALL...

OBLIGATION

• HAVE TO (Has to / Had to) - General obligations.

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• MUST - Official, written rule.

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• SHOULD (+ verb in the base form)

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• OUGHT TO (+ verb in the base form)

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• HAD BETTER (´d better)

"We ought to set the alarm for an hour earlier"

"HAD BETTER" is stronger than "OUGHT TO" and implies a warning.

"We´d better set the alarm for an hour earlier"

"NEED TO" for talking about obligation or lack of it.

"We needed to ask for directions"

(If we had done this, we wouldn't be lost)

DIFFERENCE between

"DIDN'T NEED TO" and "NEEDN'T HAVE"

• "We didn't need to ask for directions" (We had a map / We didn't do it)

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• "We needn't have asked for directions" (We asked for directions, but it was unnecessary as we found a map)

FOR SOMETHING THAT IS PERMISSIBLE OR POSSIBLE

• CAN

• (BE) ALLOWED TO

• (BE) SUPPOSED TO

• (BE) PERMITTED TO

"BE SUPPOSED TO" implies that someone expects you to do this (maybe its a rule). We can use this when we don't obey the rule.

OTHER PHRASES WHICH CAN BE USED WITH MODAL MEANING.

• (BE) PERMISSIBLE, (BE) FORBIDDEN

• (BE) BANNED, (BE/FEEL) COMPELLED

• (BE) COMPULSORY

• (BE) FORCED TO

• (BE) OBLIGATORY

• HAVE THE COURAGE TO

• DARE TO

Fill in the Blank

We couldn't bring our own food to school (allow)

"We weren't ___________________________"

Fill in the Blank

I wish I hadn't told him that I cheated in the exam. (should)

"I _______________________________________"

Fill in the Blank

You must hand this work in first thing in the morning. (have)

"You_____________________________________"

Fill in the Blank

I didn't have the courage to tell them the truth. (dare)

"I didn't _______________________________"

Fill in the Blank

They aren't allowed to have their lights on after 10p.m. (supposed)

"They're _______________________________"